This is the class blog for Eng 1102 at GA Tech called "Fiction, Human Rights, and Social Responsibility." The purpose of this blog is to extend our discussion beyond the classroom and to become aware of human rights issues that exist in the world today and how technology has played a role in either solving or aggravating them. Blogs will be a paragraph long (250 words) and students will contribute once every three weeks according to class number. Entries must be posted by Friday midnight.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Hillary Clinton's Global Legacy on Gay Rights

Hillary Clinton's Global Legacy on Gay Rights

Before stepping down as Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton made a bold departure by promoting equality for gay people. She spoke out for gay rights on Human Rights Day, the commemoration of the signing of the 1948 United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. This was a step in the advancement of human rights for not only the gays and lesbians, but for everyone around the world. The fact of the matter is that even in today’s modern society, gay rights are not accepted around the world. In Iran, a man was publicly executed by the government simply for being gay - for who he was.

I think it was very noble of Mrs. Clinton to speak out for gay rights, especially in the presence of foreign leaders that are against it. I believe people have the right to choose their sexual orientation, and that there is no “correct” sexual orientation. People should not be punished or given fewer rights, simply for being them. I believe that American modern society has gotten better at accepting the gays and lesbians in our community. However, this article proves that countries around the world are still not accepting gays and lesbians, and possibly even regressing back from rights to gays. A quote by Clinton that really stuck out to me was, “being gay is not a Western invention; it is a human reality.” America has made the most progress towards human rights, but a few foreign countries have yet to extend rights to gays and lesbians. Shortly after the man in Iran was publicly executed, Russia further restricted political freedom for gays which the nonpartisan Freedom House is calling “the return of the iron fist in Russia.” The world maybe far from accepting equal rights for gays and lesbians, but hopefully that will change in the near future.